One of the most important lessons to be learnt by a devotee in spiritual life is to not be carried away too much by the uncharitable opinions of others. This may also include the uncharitable opinions of devotees who are not like-minded to oneself. The world has become full of people who don't hesitate to find faults in others yet are extremely sensitive when someone finds a fault in them.
We perform Krishna-bhakti for our own purification, and anyone who tries to bring down our enthusiasm for sevā is a person fit to be ignored. Various people have various insecurities in their lives and they may vent it out on us in order to feel secure. The intelligent devotee learns early in spiritual life never to be influenced by any unwanted remarks made by others.
Bhartṛhari — one of the most expert Sanskrit grammarians of all times has framed the following subhāṣita-verse:
jāḍyaṁ hrīmati gaṇyate vrata-rucau dambhaḥ śucau kaitavaṁ
śūre nirghṛṇatā munau vimatitā dainyaṁ priyālāpini
tejasviny avaliptatā mukharatā vaktary aśaktiḥ sthire
tat ko nāma guṇo bhavet sa guṇināṁ yo durjanair nāṅkitaḥ
"[Some people have a way of finding faults in everyone] — they perceive gentle behavior as weakness of character; they perceive a strict follower of rituals/vows as a proud pretender; an honest person as a hypocrite; a brave person as cruel; an introvert as a fool; a sweet talker as a bootlicker; an influential person as haughty; an extrovert as overly talkative and a peaceful sage as incompetent of material progress. Name one good quality that these rascals have not maligned with their fault-finding!"
— (Nīti-śataka of Bhartṛhari, Verse 54)
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